AFLPs- Amplified fragment length polymorphisms; A highly sensitive method for detecting polymorphisms in DNA. Following restriction enzyme digestion of DNA, a subset of DNA fragments is selected for PCR amplification and visualisation. (Lefers & Holmgren Lab 2004)
Amelogenin locus- Amelogenin is found on the sex chromosomes (X and Y) and is used to identify the sex of a person from a DNA sample. (Butler & Reeder 2012)
bp- Base pairs; An association between the bases of the nucleotides on opposite strands of the DNA double helix. There are two types of base pairs: A-T and C-G. The length of DNA molecules is usually measured in base pairs. (Mountain 2011)
Centrifuge- an apparatus that rotates at high speed and by centrifugal force seperates substances of different densities, eg milk and cream (dictionary.com 2012)
Dentition- The post-mortem examination of teeth and their comparison with ante-mortem dental records, analysis is always completed by a forensic odontologist. (Jackson & Jackson 2011)
DNA-Deoxyribonucleic acid; a nucleic acid the breaks down to 2’-deoxyribose, phosphate ions, adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine. They carry the genes for all living organisms. (Blackman et al. 2012)
Isopropanol- A form of alcohol, chemical arranged in a specific manner. (Ghanem 2012)
mtDNA- mitochondrial DNA; A small DNA circle that is not in the cells nucleus but within those parts of the cells known as mitochondria. It is passed down from the maternal line. (Jackson & Jackson 2011)
Nucleotides- These are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. The four bases found in DNA are; adenine (A), cystosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T). (Mountain 2011)
PCR- Polymerase chain reaction; A method of increasing the amount of a chosen sequence of DNA. It is extremely sensitive and allows for the detection and analysis of very small amounts of DNA. (Jackson & Jackson 2011)
Photosuperimposition- A forensic technique in which a photographic image of the bare skull of the deceased is superimposed onto a photographic portrait of a possible match. (Jackson & Jackson 2011)
RFLP- restriction fragment length polymorphism; a fragment of DNA, cut by a restriction enzyme, that is different in length for each genetically related group and is used to trace family relationships. (Dictionary.com 2012)
RNA- Ribonucleic acid; a nucleic acid that breaks down to ribose, phosphate ions, adenine, uracil, guanine and cytosine. (Blackman et al. 2012)
STRs-Short tandem repeat; a type of DNA repeat where the repeat length is short, between 2 and 4 base pairs. (Jackson & Jackson 2011)
Amelogenin locus- Amelogenin is found on the sex chromosomes (X and Y) and is used to identify the sex of a person from a DNA sample. (Butler & Reeder 2012)
Assay- A quantitative determination of the amount of a given substance in a particular sample. (American Heritage Science Dictionary n.d.)
bp- Base pairs; An association between the bases of the nucleotides on opposite strands of the DNA double helix. There are two types of base pairs: A-T and C-G. The length of DNA molecules is usually measured in base pairs. (Mountain 2011)
Centrifuge- an apparatus that rotates at high speed and by centrifugal force seperates substances of different densities, eg milk and cream (dictionary.com 2012)
Dentition- The post-mortem examination of teeth and their comparison with ante-mortem dental records, analysis is always completed by a forensic odontologist. (Jackson & Jackson 2011)
DNA-Deoxyribonucleic acid; a nucleic acid the breaks down to 2’-deoxyribose, phosphate ions, adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine. They carry the genes for all living organisms. (Blackman et al. 2012)
Isopropanol- A form of alcohol, chemical arranged in a specific manner. (Ghanem 2012)
mtDNA- mitochondrial DNA; A small DNA circle that is not in the cells nucleus but within those parts of the cells known as mitochondria. It is passed down from the maternal line. (Jackson & Jackson 2011)
Nucleotides- These are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. The four bases found in DNA are; adenine (A), cystosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T). (Mountain 2011)
PCR- Polymerase chain reaction; A method of increasing the amount of a chosen sequence of DNA. It is extremely sensitive and allows for the detection and analysis of very small amounts of DNA. (Jackson & Jackson 2011)
Photosuperimposition- A forensic technique in which a photographic image of the bare skull of the deceased is superimposed onto a photographic portrait of a possible match. (Jackson & Jackson 2011)
RFLP- restriction fragment length polymorphism; a fragment of DNA, cut by a restriction enzyme, that is different in length for each genetically related group and is used to trace family relationships. (Dictionary.com 2012)
RNA- Ribonucleic acid; a nucleic acid that breaks down to ribose, phosphate ions, adenine, uracil, guanine and cytosine. (Blackman et al. 2012)
STRs-Short tandem repeat; a type of DNA repeat where the repeat length is short, between 2 and 4 base pairs. (Jackson & Jackson 2011)
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